Chow Down Atlanta

We had a bout of chilly days a couple of weeks back and I thought it was awesome. I love cold weather. But now that we are hitting 90-degree temps once again, my addiction to ramen is going to take a slight backseat to cold ramen. Slight. Not a whole lot.

So. I’ve been eating Taka’s Hiyashi Ramen since he debuted it in April. It’s so perfect for the scorching weather summer is about to bring us. This bowl of goodness comes with cold, chewy noodles, slices of tender pork, strips of egg, and a phenomenal sweet-salty-tangy broth. It’s not on the regular menu anymore so you must ask for it. And remember, it’s a cold noodle dish. It’s totally different from it’s big brother ramen, but just as good. Trust me. I know ramen.

Taka Sushi Cafe
375 Pharr Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30305
(404) 869-2802

Technorati Tags: Atlanta, Japanese, ramen

Ramen makes my world stop at a stand still. But, summer is just around the corner and I knew my thrice weekly addiction will have to wane and give in to more refreshing cold soups. Well, guess what. Taka just put out a new addition to their menu. Cold Ramen!!!

It’s unbelievably good. Chewy egg noodles bathed in a soy-vinegar broth. So light and refreshing. The tender pork marinated in five-spice powder didn’t really knock my socks off but gave the broth added flavor and dimension. I would so get this again next time.

Oh, and the lunch ramen comes with a side of steamed gyoza. Lunch of champions!

Available til September.

Taka Sushi Cafe
385 Pharr Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30305
(404) 869-2802

Technorati Tags: Japanese, Buckhead, cold ramen, ramen

We grew up eating here and it’s been our regular back-up plan when nothing else appeals. The steaks are always cooked perfectly. The roasted chicken is delicious. The salads (I’ve heard) are fantastic. But there’s one best kept secret here: the burgers. They’re phenomenal. Go now.

Houston’s
3321 Lenox Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 237-7534

Technorati Tags: American, Buckhead, Lenox, steaks, salads

…because the gluten-free dough gives you a chewy yet airy crust; and the toppings are fresh and tasty.

Two more reasons to visit: pasta and sandwiches.

The Cool Hand Luke — because Luke is a Jedi and I’m the biggest (original) Star Wars fan on the planet Earth the combination of red and white sauce, gravy, and meatballs gives this pasta the ability to perform Jedi mind tricks loads of character and flavor.

The Foodie Buddha — because this sandwich doesn’t have a name yet. And FB is its biggest fan. And the tender oxtail filling is out of this world.

Bonuses: Panghani Cookies (kinda like a hazelnut-flavored soft biscotti) and Gougéres.

Go visit the pick-up window now!

More love here, here, here, and here.

The Kind Pie
252 E Paces Ferry Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30305
(404) 869-3446

Technorati Tags: pizza, sandwiches, pasta, Buckhead

I have been to Prime twice before a long time ago and all I can remember was that it was pricey and the service was painfully slow. So it was never put on our rotation of mall dining choices. A few days ago, we saw a sign indicating early dinner specials so we decided to try it. From 5 to 6:15PM, three types of steaks are half price. It is really a great deal considering a rib-eye steak here can set you back $36 without any sides included.

We tried the chicken and andouille gumbo and Octopus Tiradito for starters. The gumbo was a little on the salty side but negligible. It had lots of chicken and sausage and the broth was good overall. The tiradito, a form of ceviche, had thin slices of fresh octopus, cilantro, long slivers of carrots and beets, and cucumber slices. It was in a sriracha-yuzu soy-based sauce that leaned more on the salty than citrusy instead of a balance of both . Good, but get the sauce on the side instead.

We settled on the boneless rib-eye steak for our main dish. An impressive piece of meat came before us: 14 ounces of thick, juicy, tender, well-seasoned rib-eye, perfectly grilled to our desired temperature, all for $14.50. A steal if you ask me.

We were told that the $5 sides are served family style and big enough for sharing. Wrong. Really. I finished the tiny order by myself. My chosen side was the Truffled Creamed Corn that was just fabulous. It is made from freshly-cut kernels, with most of them still sticking to each other. It is creamy, buttery, cheesy, mushroomy. Really, it is very, very good. The fries were forgettable. They were so soggy.

The $17 Wagyu Kobe Burger is a waste of money. Although it was served at medium (as requested), it was very, very dry. It was so dry I had to have a gulp of water after each bite to get it to go down my throat. Disappointed and left untouched after the second bite. Total waste of money.

Overall, the steaks are a great deal. Take advantage of the specials while they have it. Service is impeccable and the servers really knew the menu well.

Insider tip:
Located on the second floor at the entrance of Lenox Square mall.

The scoop:
Prime
3393 Peachtree Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 812-0555

Technorati Tags: steak, sushi, seafood, Buckhead, H2S